Rescue stretcher

Abstract

A stretcher including a flexible base panel sized to support a person lying thereon during a rescue or extrication operation. The base panel includes a header end and an opposite footer end, and further includes a plurality of securement straps coupled to the base panel to help restrain the injured person and prevent further injury that may be caused such as by having the person roll off the sides of the stretcher. The disclosure further relates to a method of deploying the stretcher to access and remove an injured person from a confined area to provide treatment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of using a rescue stretcher to remove an injured person from a confined area, the method comprising:
 deploying the rescue stretcher adjacent the injured person in the confined area, the rescue stretcher including an elongate, flexible panel sized to underlay the injured person, the panel including a header end and an opposite footer end, a first side and an opposite second side, and a first securement strap coupled to the flexible panel, the first securement strap including a first segment with a first strap buckle and a second segment with a second strap buckle, wherein the first securement strap extends transversely across the flexible panel from the first side to the second side thereof when the first and second strap buckles mate with one another, the rescue stretcher further including a fastener device coupled thereto; 
 arranging the header end of the rescue stretcher in the confined area and adjacent the injured person; 
 securing the fastener device of the rescue stretcher to the injured person; 
 pulling the rescue stretcher along the footer end of the flexible panel, urging the fastener device to drag the injured person away from the confined area; and 
 securing the injured person to the rescue stretcher once away from the confined area. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising securing the first securement strap to the injured person prior to the step of pulling the rescue stretcher. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of securing the first securement strap to the injured person further includes securing the first securement strap to a torso or limb of the injured person. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning the injured person on the flexible panel of the rescue stretcher such that the flexible panel entirely underlays the injured person prior to the step of securing the injured person to the rescue stretcher. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of securing the injured person comprises recoupling the first securement strap after the step of positioning the injured person. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , the rescue stretcher further including one or more loop handles coupled along the footer end of the flexible panel, the method further comprising the step of grasping at least one of the one or more loop handles prior to the step of pulling the rescue stretcher. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing any attached restraint from the injured person prior to the step of pulling the rescue stretcher. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rescue stretcher further comprises a second securement strap coupled to the flexible panel, the second securement strap including a first segment with a first strap buckle and a second segment with a second strap buckle, and wherein the step of securing the injured person to the rescue stretcher includes securing the first and second securements straps over the person. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising lifting the rescue stretcher, via one or more loop handles coupled thereto, and carrying the rescue stretcher away from the confined area. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , the rescue stretcher further comprising a plurality of lift sling straps coupled thereto, the method further comprising:
 coupling the fastener device to gather the plurality of the lift sling straps after the step of securing the injured person; and 
 coupling the fastener device to an extraction line for carrying the rescue stretcher and injured person. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , the rescue stretcher further including a first crease formed along the flexible panel, and a second crease formed along the flexible panel, the rescue stretcher being foldable along the first and second creases, wherein the step of deploying the rescue stretcher further includes unfolding the rescue stretcher along the first and second creases. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the fastener device to the injured person further includes securing the fastener device to an article of clothing worn by the injured person. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cutting or tearing an article of clothing worn by the injured person to form an opening thereon after the step of deploying the rescue stretcher adjacent the injured person in the confined area, and wherein the step of securing the fastener device of the rescue stretcher further comprises securing the fastener device to the opening on the article of clothing worn by the injured person. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , the rescue stretcher further including one or more loop handles coupled thereto, wherein the fastener device is coupled to one of the one or more loop handles of the rescue stretcher.